Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

Agent Starling · **Joined:** 8th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 1701

Bamba wrote:

Although it doesn't sound very challenging I'm a sucker for something pretty and charming with a decent narrative so I'll almost certainly pick up Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons at some point.

I got this earlier and have so far put a couple of hours into it, and am probably about halfway through.

Anyway, it's quite lovely, and charming, and moving in some places.

It's not especially difficult, though using both sticks to control each of the boys took me some getting used to, and that method certainly didn't come naturally to me. But that's good, as it makes you think a bit, and plan a bit.

The graphics are gorgeous too.

Deffo worth a punt, if anyone was in two minds over it.

Agent Starling · **Joined:** 8th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 1701

Finished! Apart from mopping up a few Cheevos.

Epic stuff though - a lovely story, well told.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

No such thing as a happy ending though, not really. And the bit where you, literally, bury your brother, is quite upsetting.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14415

Wow, I thought this was going to be quite bland throughout but it's got a dark edge to it. Nice.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

I said this about it in another thread:

Quote:

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons finished and indeed maxed; making it only the second game, after Flower, that I've managed to do that for. The achievements in it were very cool in that working out what to do for each was a puzzle in itself, with the achievement description serving as a hint as to what each one required. In fact the sub-text for each one actually changed from the original hint text to a reference to what you'd actually done once you'd popped it, which I don't think I've ever seen before.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14415

That rope bit was almost terrifying just because I kept forgetting which button I was holding down for each guy.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2014 23:49

Saturnalian wrote:

That rope bit was almost terrifying just because I kept forgetting which button I was holding down for each guy.

The other rope bit with the hanging and the evil trees was terrifying because I almost couldn't physically hold down the ps3 triggers for that long.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14415

I'm having the same irritation.

That battle scene though? Bit unexpected and groovy. I've enjoyed this so far, even if it is a bit disposable.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Tue Mar 11, 2014 12:51

Saturnalian wrote:

I'm having the same irritation.

That battle scene though? Bit unexpected and groovy. I've enjoyed this so far, even if it is a bit disposable.

Which battle scene?

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

Mr Dave wrote:

Saturnalian wrote:

I'm having the same irritation.

That battle scene though? Bit unexpected and groovy. I've enjoyed this so far, even if it is a bit disposable.

Which battle scene?

The one with the aftermath of the battle between all the giants presumably.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14415

Spoilerz!

(but yeah, that bit)

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Tue Mar 11, 2014 14:02

Bamba wrote:

Mr Dave wrote:

Saturnalian wrote:

I'm having the same irritation.

That battle scene though? Bit unexpected and groovy. I've enjoyed this so far, even if it is a bit disposable.

Which battle scene?

The one with the aftermath of the battle between all the giants presumably.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

That's what I was predicting, but it's not the only battle scene - albeit the most likely one given the closeness of the other battle to the end

I liked the world, it had a certain authenticity despite being obviously unrealistic. (see also: Ico, SOTC, Dark Souls)

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14415

Well that was bloody great wasn't it?

Wow.

Just, well, I loved it.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

I thought it was going to be a little pedestrian at first but even the opening section had it's moments with the kid who kept barring your way. It's all uphill from there though. It's never taxing, it won't have you stumped, you'll hate the PS3 triggers, but then you'll forget about what it doesn't do and just enjoying it. It's so easy to enjoy and exactly the right length for me (two sittings and a couple of hours tops) while I mentally prepare myself for the Dark Soulsathon.

I don't think I have a favourite chapter because they were all great if you ask me. I especially liked the castle as it foreshadowed the next chapter as you learn there are/were giants. Or maybe the brothers are just little people, who knows.

The snowy mountain just showed how beautiful it actually is. Before then I was thinking that it was actually really pretty but the boat journey (and of course I helped the turtles! The turtles man, the wee turtles!) and the bit before the spider woman showed how good it was.

But, for me, the tone of the game just worked: the playful intro and descent into a surprisingly dark world. It's been done a million times of course but the man committing suicide was a real eye opener. It suddenly became a place where bad things can happen not just some picture book adventure that it was going to be. And then the frozen town really impressed me. The little snowmen dotted around and suddenly the draw back of the camera as you stumble across tens of snowmen locked in what appears to be a siege and suddenly you realise that something else happened here and these are people. Really nice.

But to cap it all off, making you drag your dead brother to his grave and burying him. When the camera showed your brother away from the grave site and you can see you're about to be handed control again I almost didn't believe it, but there it was.

I didn't cry but it felt strange.

There was just something else that stopped it being a classic. Maybe the art was too fairy tale story. Maybe the odd way that the textures loaded in. Maybe it was the The Sims style talking. Maybe it was just too easy. Maybe the fight that led to the death wasn't subtle enough (rolling a ball around, pulling off legs was a bit tedious, to be fair). I dunno.

9/10 for being awesome though. I loved it. Not LIMBO loved it but loved it all the same.

That was free an' all. PSN: ace.

Dr Lave · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5979

I've got a game breaking bug, which means I have to replay the whole of chapter 2. Hmph.

It hasn't gripped me yet, and this may cause me to abandon it.

myp · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 14:17

I've got up to the bit

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

where you find the shaman and followers

and I can't say it's really grabbed me. I appreciate the innovation and it does look really nice, but I've only managed about 30 mins at a time because I've just got bored and wanted to play something else instead.

Shame really.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

British Nervoso wrote:

I've got up to the bit

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

where you find the shaman and followers

and I can't say it's really grabbed me. I appreciate the innovation and it does look really nice, but I've only managed about 30 mins at a time because I've just got bored and wanted to play something else instead.

Shame really.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

What bit is that? The only shaman in the game I can think of is the guy right at the start who sends you for the water of life.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 14:23

Bamba wrote:

British Nervoso wrote:

I've got up to the bit

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

where you find the shaman and followers

and I can't say it's really grabbed me. I appreciate the innovation and it does look really nice, but I've only managed about 30 mins at a time because I've just got bored and wanted to play something else instead.

Shame really.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

What bit is that? The only shaman in the game I can think of is the guy right at the start who sends you for the water of life.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

the bit where you rescue the woman?

myp · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 14:24

Bamba wrote:

British Nervoso wrote:

I've got up to the bit

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

where you find the shaman and followers

and I can't say it's really grabbed me. I appreciate the innovation and it does look really nice, but I've only managed about 30 mins at a time because I've just got bored and wanted to play something else instead.

Shame really.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

What bit is that? The only shaman in the game I can think of is the guy right at the start who sends you for the water of life.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

Maybe it's not a shaman, but someone leading a rousing speech then. It's after all the dead giants and then there's a load of people with pointy spears

myp · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 14:24

Mr Dave wrote:

Bamba wrote:

British Nervoso wrote:

I've got up to the bit

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

where you find the shaman and followers

and I can't say it's really grabbed me. I appreciate the innovation and it does look really nice, but I've only managed about 30 mins at a time because I've just got bored and wanted to play something else instead.

Shame really.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

What bit is that? The only shaman in the game I can think of is the guy right at the start who sends you for the water of life.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

the bit where you rescue the woman?

Yes.

Mr Dave · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 14:34

British Nervoso wrote:

Yes.

You're nearly there, just a little bit more.

My thoughts are as before, the gameplay was a bit rubbish, nut I did like the world design.

And the younger Brother is a bit of an arse.

myp · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 14:35

Mr Dave wrote:

British Nervoso wrote:

Yes.

You're nearly there, just a little bit more.

My thoughts are as before, the gameplay was a bit rubbish, nut I did like the world design.

Yeah, I think I agree. Especially about the nut.

Be Excellent To Each Other

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

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